Evaluation of Fungicides (In vitro) Against Stemphylium vesicarium, Causing Leaf Blight of Onion

Foliage/leaf blight caused by Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) E. Simmons is one of the major destructive disease of onion (Allium cepa L.) crop grown in the sate of Maharashtra. In the present study, bio-efficacy of eight fungicides was evaluated in vitro against Stemphylium vesicarium. All the fungicides tested were found fungistatic/fungicidal against the test pathogen and significantly inhibited mycelial growth of the test pathpgen over untreated control. However, Mancozeb 75W Precorded significantly highest mean inhibition (90.01%) of the test pathogen. The second and third best fungicides found were Carbendazim 50 WP and Copper oxychloride 50WP which recorded mean growth inhibition, respectively of 89.25 and 86.86 per cent,. This was followed by the fungicides, viz., Chlorothalonil 75 WP (84.77% inhibition), Difenconazole 25 EC (84.02% inhibition), Thiophanate methyl 70 WP (78.21% inhibition), Penconazole 10 EC (77.61% inhibition) and Hexaconazole 5 EC (76.43% inhibition). Thus, in the present study those fungicides found effective could be exploited under field conditions for effective management of Stemphylium leaf blight of onion.